Gas tubed furniture apparatus for administering inhalation therapy



April 6, 1965 Filed Nov. 17, 1960 A L. BARACH GAS TUBED F'UR NITURE APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING INHALATION THERAPY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Alvon L. Baruch FIGURE III Inventor Attorney April 6, 1965 A. BARACH GAS TUBED FURNITURE APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING INHALATION THERAPY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17. 1960 FIGURE I FIGURE III Alvon L. Baruch Inventor Attorney eybmozz 3,176,687 GAS TUBE!) FURNITURE APPARATUS FGR ADMINISTERHQG INHALATIGN THERAPY Alvan L. Barach, 72 E. 91st St., New York, NY. Filed Nov. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 69,927 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-203) The present invention in broadly concerned with an improved and more eifective method and apparatus for administering inhalation therapy with respect to respiratory diseases and tube furniture for use therewith. The invention is more specifically concerned with the use of hollow tubing and the like in various items of furniture for the storage of oxygen to be administered to patients requiring respiratory therapy. The invention is suitable for use in hospital beds, in stretchers, and other articles of furniture now commonly used such as medical examining tables, couches, beds, Wheel chairs, medicine cabinets, surgical tables, and also chairs in homes. The invention is particularly adapted for use also in wheel chairs wherein a patient requires occasional or emergency respiratory therapy. The invention may be also particularly adapted to the administration of any type of anesthetic gas as, for example, nitrous oxide, ether, and the like. Thus, it is within the concept of the present invention to use the same in operating rooms, in dental oiiices and in clinics.

It is well known in the art to administer oxygen to patients requiring respiratory therapy or patients suffering from cardiac ailments. In these instances, it is the general practice to place beside the patient a relatively large cumbersome cylinder of oxygen which must be brought in, normally with awkward moving handling equipment and then to connect the cylinder to the oxygen tent or to the nasal cannula or nasal catheter by suitable adapters. This operation, in addition to being very inefficient, costly and non-pleasing to the eye, tends in most instances to exert an undesirable depressing effect upon the patient. Also, the presence of this high pressure cylinder of a relatively large quantity of oxygen constitutes a hazard since a broken valve and rapid dispersion of the oxygen may result as, for example, if the cylinder should be accidentally overturned. Furthermore, the daily or semi-daily replacement of these huge cylinders is undesirable since the operation in addition to being rather noisy, which tends to disturb in many instances very ill patients, also causes the introduction into the par tients room of a certain amount of undesirable foreign and harmful bacterial substances, by reason of personnel entering the room to replace cylinders.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a hollow storage tubing is provided in furniture as well as for hospital beds, chairs, convalescent or emergency Wheel chairs, in couches, and in stretchers whereby oxygen can be stored at the desired pressure until it is required and then administered as desired. it is also especially desirable to use this hollow tubing in surgical and examining tables. While it is preferred that the oxygen be stored in hollow tubing which may be either circular, rectangularor of other desired shapes, it is to be understood that the oxygen may be stored adjacent to the patient in other pieces of furniture as, for example, stationary lamps, medicine cabinets, couches, and the like. Also, the storage of oxygen in the manner described may be equally applicable for use in trains, airplanes, buses, and the like. Also, some of the conventional oxygen cylinders may be attached to furniture in such a way as to be concealed from View but with a refilling device connection.

, A particularly desirable feature of the present invention is that these reservoirs comprising tubular elements or suitable oxygen cylinders and the like may be quietly refilled from a distance by a relatively fine tubular conduit or other equivalent hose connection. Thus, for example, the tubular members of the bed assembly serve as a reservoir for the stored fluid (gas) such as oxygen.

With respect to a technique of filling these tubular elements from a distance away from the beds, for example the stairway may be lined with a tube filled with oxygen which may comprise a wire or a pipe up to one inch in diameter, which pipe extends to a room containing the wheel chair or to the patients bed from a point without the house. This will enable the supplier of oxygen to directly refill the oxygen storage facilities within the hospital or the home directly from a tank track positioned without the hospital or the home. As pointed out heretofore, the present invention permits oxygen to be stored at readily available places Where it may be required in satisfactory volume and at satisfactory pressures without having anything conspicuous being within the room in the sight of the patient. Insofar as hospitals and the like are concerned, this type of arrangement is much less expensive than installation of a piping system throughout the hospital. Also, the present invention stores the oxygen in a manner that is readily available in an emer' gency.

A particularly desirable adaptation of the present invention is the use of tubular storage vessels which, in essence, comprise four support pipes of a portable oxy gen room as well as four or more cross pipes that support the roof. Here again a satisfactory rate of oxygen is supplied over the desired time period at the required pressure without the necessity of having unsightly heavy big cylinders of oxygen within the oxygen room in the sight of the patient. a

The present invention may be more fully understood by reference to the attached figures illustrating embodiments of the same. In FIGURE I is a simplified sketch of a typical hospital bed being adapted to raise the position of the patient either at the head end or the foot end, and also being adapted to be raised or lowered as desired as well as to the supply the patient with the necessary auxiliary services such as lighting equipment, trays for reading and eating, and instruments for summoning help when necessary. FIGURE II illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in use in an oxygen chair. PTGURES III, IV, and V illustrate a particularly desirable therapeutic chair for the administration of the therapeutic gas.

Referring specifically to FIGURE I, all tubular mem bers as illustrated are hollow and leakproof and designed to store oxygen or other gas, such as ether, under a relatively high pressure. These tubular members comprise headposts l and 2 with an upper crossover 3 and a lower crossover member 4. There may be positioned between these members under certain circumstances a hollow panel element 5 which is also designed to store oxygen under a relatively high pressure. The bed comprises lower bedposts 6 and 7 with an upper crossover 8 and a lower crossover member 9. Here again the area between the respective members may comprise a hollow panel element 19 which is also designed to act as a storage reservoir for oxygen under pressure. The equipment is designed to be filled preferably from an external source through line, 11 through valve means 12. Line 11 may be a rigid fixed member or may be an adjustable flexible hose member. In accordance with the specific adaptation of the invention, the lower beclposts 6 and 7 and crossover members 3 and 9 are sealed by means of valves 13 and 14 to provide a supplementary auxiliary reservoir. When oxygen is required, a conventional tent may be placed over the patient in a conventional manner and oxygen fed to with- Patented Apr. 6, 1965 in the tent from zone which comprises equipment designed to release the oxygen at the desired rate per minute and at the desired pressure. Zone 15 may also comprise a nasal cannula or nasal catheter for attaching directly to the patient.

Referring specifically to FIGURE II, an oxygen chair contains each arm area 21 and 22, oxygen storage reservoirs 23 and 24 respectively. A capillary type manifold 25 connects the banks of oxygen cylinders. Chair 20 is provided with a main access 26 to provide access to the cylinder valves. A mask or cannula tubing 2? is con nected to the outlet of the oxygen. Here again the con- I the relaxed position, and FIGURE V is a front view of the rocker.

Similar elements in the respective figures are similarly numbered. Referring specifically to FIGURE III, a seat section 30 is in an adjustable relationship with a lower leg section 31 and an upper torso section 32. A head section 33 is in an adjustable relationship with the upper torso section 32. The seat section 30 and the arm section are supported by legs 35 and 36 which, in turn, are supported on a rocker element 37 The respective sections 33, 32, 30, and 31 can be adjusted with respect to one another by means of hinged locked knobs 41, 42, and 45. A leg brace section 38 mounted between the legs is adapted to support the oxygen storage tanks 39. Refer- 7 ring specifically to FIGURE IV, the rocker is illustrated in the released position wherein a flow support arm 34 extends upwardly from the floor to support the head and upper torso section. As illustrated, the rocker has been tipped backwardly in order to have the head of the patient in a position below the position of the body.

FIGURE V illustrates the rocker as a front view. While the dimensions of the rocker may be varied appreciably depending upon the therapeutic use at which it is intended,

a suitable type of rocker with respective measurements are shown on the FIGURES III, IV, and V. For example, as illustrated in FIGURE III, the length of the seat section may be approximately 7 /2", the width of the chair approximately 37", the height of the leg section about 17" and wherein the arm'and seat section is tilted approximately 15 off the horizontal. The overall width as illustrated in FIGURE V may be approximately 21". Here again the tubular members of the chair itself may comprise hollow cylindrical elements adapted to secure the storage of oxygen in a manner as described with respect to FIGURES I and II.

While the pressure at which the oxygen is stored may vary appreciably depending upon various factors and the pressure and concentration at which it is dispensed also varies appreciably, it is preferred to store the oxygen at q a pressure in the range of 1000 lbs/sq. in. to 3000 lbs/sq.

in., preferably in the range from about 2000 lbs. to 2200 lbs/sq. in. Generally, it is anticipated that from 200- 300 cu. ft. of oxygen as for example about 244- cu. ft.

of oxygen are good for about 24 hours. This means that approximately 10 or 12 liters are administered per minute which means that cylinders or tubing having this capacity must be refilled or recharged every 12 to 24 hours. Under certain circumstances, the oxygen can be administered at the rate of about 5 liters per minute through a venturi sired pressure as, for example, at about 50 lbs., thereby permitting the use of thisdispensed Oxygen to operate a venturi and thus secure circulation of the air within the oxygen bed.

The size of the tubing likewise may be varied appreciably. For example, if a bed should be 6'6 in length and approximately 40 wide, the size of the tubing may vary from about 1 /2" in diameter to 5 or 6". A preferred tubing size is approximately 4". It is desired that the tubing be of high strength and of a material which is relatively light weight so as to permit ease of movement. It is also possible that beds can store suitable oxygen cylinders hidden from view, by the use of a supporting frame underneath the bed.

Thus, the present invention is concerned with an improved method and technique which is very desirable from a therapeutic value for the administration 'of oxy en and other gases to patients requiring the same. be e is also a considerable saving in the cost of oxygen since the big cumbersome cylinders do not need to be carried up to the location or room at which the oxygen is to be administered. The use of external filling means greatly reduces the service charges for the oxygen being delivered and administered. 7

Thus, is essence, this invention comprises the use of hollow tubes or cylinders capable of withstanding 2000 psi. pressure and higher, suitably equipped with valve and filling device. The legs of the furniture as well as the seat and the frame and any other part of the furniture, is so constructed as to be easily filled with oxygen by means of a special refilling device. Also these units are so equipped with an outlet valve so that patient may have oxygen without the need of an additional source.

Thus, the present invention comprises a unique method and apparatus for the storage and administration of therapeutic gases. In essence, the apparatus comprises furniture so designed and so constructed that the therapeutic gases are stored within these pieces of'furniture. These furniture units have satisfactory means both for the refilling of the same, preferably from a distance, and also for the administration and control of the therapeutic gases being administered. In essence, this type of furniture preferably comprises hospital beds, surgical tables, stretchers, chairs, and the like for home use. invention has been specifically described with respect to the administration of oxygen, it is to be understood that the present invention encompasses other therapeutic gases such as ethers, other anesthetic type gases, nitrous oxides, and the like. It is within the concept of the present invention to provide dental chairs and the like so designed to store these therapeutic gases for the treatment of dental patients. It is within the concept of the present invention to provide storage capacity within this type of furniture so as to permit the storage of the therapeutic gases in the liquid phase either as a pure gas or in various types of solution. The administering means under these circumstances will comprise a pressure reducing valve allowing the liquid therapeutic fiuid to vaporize as it passes through the pressure reducing valve and thereafter be administered as desired to the patient. 7

The chair for home, hospital or office use may be a specially constructed chair to provide use of the head down position as well.

What is claimed is:

1. Improved apparatus for treating patients requiring inhalation therapeutic treatment which comprises furniture means comprising tubular elements, said'furniture means designed to support said patient and said tubular elements designed to store and to convey therapeutic fluids, means for introducing a therapeutic fluid into said tubular elements and outlet means connected to said tubular elements for administering said fluid from said tubular elements to a patient. 7

2. Apparatus for treating patients requiring inhalation therapeutic treatment which comprises furniture means comprising tubular elements, said furniture means designed to support saidpatient and said tubular elements While the of interconnected hollow tubes to form all sections of the rocker chairapparatus, a reservoir formed by said interconnected hollow tubes, a seat section having pivotally attached at one end thereof a leg section and at the other end thereof an upper torso section, said upper torso section having pivotally attached at its upper end a head section, said seat section being supported by legs extending downwardly therefrom, said legs being attached at the lower end thereof to rocker elements, whereby when said chair is positioned in a relaxed position said head section, said upper torso section, said seat section and said lower leg section are in straight alignment with respect to each other and wherein when said rocker is positioned in an upright position, said leg section and said upper torso section are substantially perpendicular to said seat section, means for introducing a therapeutic fluid into said hollow tubes, and outlet means connected to said hollow tubes for administering said fluid from said tubular elements to a patient.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein when said i chair is in a relaxed position a vertical member extends downwardly to the floor and supports said head section. 5. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 where an additional reservoir comprises cylindens positioned directly below said seat section and connected to said first named reservoir formed by said hollow tubes.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said furniture means comprises a bed consisting of hollow members including said tubular elements.

7. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said furniture means comprises a therapeutic chair.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 665,243 1/01 Luria 560 1,803,947 5/31 Runkles et a1 297-494 2,097,751 11/37 Baltich 5284 2,240,819 5/41 Waly 128373 2,390,236 12/45 Boothby et a1 128--191 2,419,412 4/47 McArthur 297-194 2,471,183 5/49 Adams 297-194 2,770,812 ll/56 Whiteside 5284 2,847,006 8/58 Griifith 128-191 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. HAROLD B. WHITMORE, Examiner. 

1. IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TREATING PATIENTS REQUIRING INHALATION THEREAPEUTIC TREATMENT WHICH COMPRISES FURNITURE MEANS COMPRISING TUBULAR ELEMENTS, SAID FURNITURE MEANS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SAID PATIENT AND SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS DESIGNED TO STORE AND TO CONVEY THERAPEUTIC FLUIDS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A THERAPEUTIC FLUID INTO SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS AND OUTLET MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS AND OUTLET MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS FOR ADMINISTERING SAID FLUID FROM SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO A PATIENT. 